Ben Melham was left disappointed when the innaugural Everest was announced last year because he knew he couldn’t make the weight for She Will Reign, but a year later he could be on the race favourite in Santa Ana Lane.
The six-year-old triple group 1 winner flew along the rails to take Saturday’s group 2 Premiere Stakes, smashing the 1200m Randwick track record and confirming what Melham knew.
“He was fantastic,” Melham said. “When this race came up last year I was wishing I could ride She Will Reign and couldn’t, so it will be great to be there this year.
Fast lane: Santa Ana Lane charges through on the rails to win the Premiere Stakes.
“Santa has stamped himself as a genuine winning hope, which I always thought he was from the time he won the two group 1s back to back in the winter.
“He has furnished and matured again since and he is more mentally sound. They are going to have to be pretty good to beat him.”
Redzel and Invincible Star flew through the first half of the race, setting it up for the swoopers. In Her Time then Santa Ana Lane and Shoals were the ones to take advantage of the frantic tempo.
In Her Time ($5.50) hit the front into the 200m metres but couldn’t hold off Santa Lane Ana ($12), which scored by a head, with Shoals ($8.50), coming down the centre of the track to run third a nose away.
The clock was stopped at 1:07.45 with the first six home under the old 1200m record.
“The race set up for him and we took the short way home. He actually thrives taking inside runs and that’s when he lets down best,” Melham said. “He is just a really good racehorse with a great finish.”
Trainer Anthony Freedman had spoken of the pressure of The Everest before having first and third in the Premiere and knows it will ramp up.
“We knew how well they were going and now everyone does,” Freedman said. “It is just a matter of keeping up to the mark for the next couple of weeks.
“But I guess everyone will want to know more about them now.
“We knew Santa was going really well and he’s run very good time. Our job now is to get him back here in two weeks in the same condition.”
Santa Ana Lane was made the $7 equal favourite for The Everest, with Vega Magic, which shortened without running on Saturday. In Her Time is $8 and Shoals is a $9.
“The track was probably a bit firm for Shoals and she has a it more improvement in her off that run,” Freedman said.
Corey Brown was delighted with the effort of In Her Time first-up, which was left in front when she went past Redzel.
“I would have loved Redzel to go with me for a little longer, and if he did she was the winner,” Brown said. “She will be better in The Everest again.”
Redzel ($3.50 fav) was simply too keen in the early part of the race and had nothing in the tank in the final 200m as he dropped back to run fifth.
“He went free for the first furlong. I thought he came back underneath me from the half mile. He was left wanting the last furlong. With that out of his system, he going to spot on for The Everest,” jockey Kerrin McEvoy said.
Trapeze Artist ($3.90) settled a bit closer than the swoopers and was even to the post as he ran into fourth.
“That is what he needed and we know he always gets better after that second run back,” his trainer Gerald Ryan said.
The real disappointment of the was Invinicble Star, which only beat Music Magnate home. There might be a decision for GPI Racing if they look for another horse in The Everest.
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